Florence, Oregon doesn’t get as much attention as some of the state’s bigger coastal towns, but it’s a solid base for a weekend of outdoor adventure. Between the Cape Mountain Trail Run, Roosevelt elk herds, Oregon Coast, and the sprawling Oregon Dunes, there’s no shortage of things to do if you like dirt, sand, and getting outside.
Day 1: Headed to Florence
We got into Florence Friday evening and checked into Driftwood Shores Resort just outside of town — basic, comfortable, and with a great view of the Pacific Ocean. We made sure to enjoy the sites of the Oregon Coast! Downtown Florence had a handful of good spots for food, beer, and coffee. We finished the evening walking along the Siuslaw River at the Boat Dock to stretch out from the drive.
Day 2: Danielle's Cape Mountain Trail Run
Welcome to the Cape Mountain Trail Runs! These 50K, 25K and 10K loop courses soar high above the Pacific Ocean on one of the Oregon Coast’s defining headlands, Cape Mountain. Just 15 minutes north of Florence, the mountain’s hidden gem trail network offers miles and miles of exceptional singletrack through moss-draped old growth rainforest, enchanting creek canyons, and rare coastal headland meadows.
Oregon’s Cape Mountain headland projects straight out of the Pacific Ocean from its base at Sea Lion Point (famous for its caves!), rising nearly 1500’ above sea level at its summit. Within the mighty Siuslaw National Forest (pronounced sigh-YEW-slaw), Cape Mountain’s massive size, volcanic origins and location define the Central Oregon Coast as the northern geographic boundary of the Oregon Dunes and the Siuslaw River Valley, home to some of the most scenic coastline anywhere in the United States. Meadow and summit views extend for dozens of miles on clear days, having been stewarded by fire for thousands of years by the native Siuslaw peoples, who’ve hunted deer and elk here for countless generations. The Siuslaw tribe’s name for the mountain is Hu’wiina, the “high dark place at the north end of the sand dunes”.
The course surfaces are surprisingly fast and flowing on dirt singletrack and a few intermittent dirt doubletrack sections. Most of the course mileage is very runnable and smooth dirt trail. There are numerous areas with shallow tree roots and rocks to negotiate, but they are not predominant or extensive along the course. Since these trails were originally purpose-built as equestrian trails, they drain very well, they flow nicely and the climbs and descents are neither terribly steep or technical.
Following the run, we got to see Heceta Lighthouse and then grabbed coffee in town at River Roasters then started with a drive back to Grants Pass. After that, we headed to the Oregon Dunes. These things are massive — like, unexpectedly big. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, North America's largest coastal dunes, stretches from Florence to the south, and encapsulate a unique eco-system in an other-worldly landscape. The wind-sculpted sand dunes can reach to 500 feet above sea level. It felt like we were on another planet. Following the dunes, we stopped along the way at Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. The elk viewing area was just off the highway and easy to miss, but worth the stop. We spotted a herd of Roosevelt elk grazing out in the open — surprisingly close. No binoculars needed.
